H.M.S. Solebay Battle class Destroyer 
HISTORY OF THE SHIP This model is a class of warship that many ship lovers think is the most handsome and elegant of all ships to serve in the Royal Navy. The speed, lines and offensive power of the armed destroyers has always captured the imagination of all warship enthusiasts, and the Battle class combines all of the best with a powerful gun armament. The ships are referred to as the 1942 class, and most handsome they were in appearance. They embraced all the features that had been learned during the war years, but so complicated was the weapons fit that only one of the class was completed in 1944.A further six ships joined the fleet in 1945.The last of the class was completed in 1948. A brief history of H.M.S. Solebay follows as this ship is a representative of the class. She was built by Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn on Tyne and launched on 22/2/1944 and was completed 11/10/1945. She was the leader of the 5th destroyer flotilla from completion until 1953,so she would have carried a broad black band around her funnel. She was at the Coronation review at Spithead on 15/6/53.After this she was paid off into reserve at Chatham.In 1957 she was deployed to the Far East returning in 1960 for a further Med/Home service. In 1962 returned to Portsmouth to become harbour training ship .She was broken up in Troon in 1967. | 
